Why calming sounds help children to relax and put them to sleep

Calming sounds or white noises refer to sounds that mask other sounds that might occur naturally in an environment. If you live in a busy city, white noise could help block out noises associated with traffic. Sounds like rainforest or beach sounds are often used as calming sounds.

But, have you ever thought why and how sounds affect us? According to Julian Treasure, sound expert and Ted speaker, sound affects us in 4 ways.

Physiologically

Calming sounds are associated with lower levels of cortisol (stress hormone!). During his Ted Talk, Julian Treasure explains how ocean waves can be especially relaxing to humans. Ocean waves roll in and out at roughly 12 cycles per minute. Guess what? The breathing of sleeping human cycles at around 12 times per minute. No wonder, listening to ocean waves has a sleepy, relaxing, and comforting effect.

Psychologically

Have you ever wonder why bird songs have a very comforting and reassuring effect on us? According to Treasure: “Over hundreds of thousands of years, humans have found that when the birds are singing, things are safe. It’s when they stop you need to be worried.”

Cognitively

The sound expert explains that in unpleasantly noisy spaces, our productivity decreases by 66%! Imagine your children with distracting noises, that explains why it is so hard for them to focus. It is suggested to play some soothing music, and productivity will come back.

Behaviorally

When there is an unpleasant sound, it causes us stress and we avoid it by leaving the place or try to silence it. Science shows that those sounds affect us in a big and profound way, whether we realize it or not.

Sources:
https://www.kidsinthehouse.com/blogs/elizabeth-pantley/four-reasons-to-use-white-noise-to-help-your-child-sleep
https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/white-noise-for-babies#pros
https://endel.io/zine/the-science-behind-relaxing-sounds/
https://www.lingokids.com/blog/posts/calming-music-for-kids